Shilpa Rao’s Husband Criticises Organisers After Festival Set Ends Early

Shilpa Rao’s set at the Bollywood Music Project in Mumbai ended abruptly on October 24, prompting criticism from her husband, Ritesh Krishnan, and an apology from the festival. The organisers said delays and venue curfew regulations forced the premature end to the singer’s performance. Krishnan said on social media that he felt angry, disappointed and helpless while watching his wife’s treatment. He said Rao’s audience matters deeply to her and described the way her set ended as disrespectful. He also criticised the organisers for not allowing her to say goodbye to the crowd. Rao later posted that the evening felt unfinished, thanked fans for calling her name and supporting her, and promised to return to Mumbai. Her post expressed hurt at the abrupt ending but did not describe the circumstances surrounding the stage transition. In its statement, the Bollywood Music Project apologised to Rao and said it valued her artistry. The festival said large events involve complex logistics and that delays, combined with local authority guidelines and venue curfew rules, led to her set ending early. It said it regretted being unable to present her performance in full. The accounts differ...